Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dekchironne’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Dekchironne’, characterized by its decorative pompon-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped, yellow green-colored ray florets; strong and upright flowering stems; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Dekchironne’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium,commercially grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘Dekchironne’.

The new Chrysanthemum is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new decorative-type Chrysanthemumcultivars with unique ray floret coloration and excellent postproductionlongevity.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands on Feb. 6, 2004 of a proprietaryselection of Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 42218,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number99.4137.01, not patented. The cultivar Dekchironne was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny ofthe stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hensbroek,The Netherlands on Oct. 15, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands since November,2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Dekchironne have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dekchironne’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Dekchironne’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum:

-   -   1. Decorative pompon-type inflorescences with elongated        oblong-shaped, yellow green-colored ray florets.    -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.    -   3. Early and uniform flowering response; plants flower about        seven weeks after the start of photoinductive treatments.    -   4. Good postproduction longevity; plants maintain good substance        for about three weeks in an interior environment.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum are less vigorous than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have smaller leaves than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences        than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum are less vigorous than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger leaves than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences        than plants of the male parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the male parent selection        differ in ray floret color as plants of the male parent        selection have yellow-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of theChrysanthemum cultivar Balloon, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the newChrysanthemum differed from plants of the cultivar Balloon in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had larger inflorescences        than plants of the cultivar Balloon.    -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum had 20%        more ray florets than inflorescences of plants of the cultivar        Balloon.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the cultivar Balloon        differed in ray floret color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Chrysanthemum. These photographs show the colors as true asit is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of thistype. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the colorvalues cited in the detailed botanical description which accuratelydescribe the colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering stem of ‘Dekchironne’ grown as a disbud type.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet are close-up views of theupper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typical inflorescences andleaves of ‘Dekchironne’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown during the spring in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercialpractice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given longday/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatmentsto induce flower initiation and development. During the production ofthe plants, day temperatures ranged from 17.5° C. to 30° C., nighttemperatures ranged from 18.5° C. to 24° C. and light levels were aboutfive kilolux. Plants were pinched once and were about nine weeks fromplanting when the photographs and the description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar    Dekchironne.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 42218,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number            99.4137.01, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About six to seven days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 14 to 16 days at            20° C.        -   Root description/habit.—Fine; light brown in color; freely            branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance/growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut            flower that is typically grown as a disbud type. Moderately            vigorous growth habit.        -   Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About 75            cm to 85 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to 6 mm. Texture:            Pubescent; longitudinally ridged. Color: Close to 144A to            144B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 6 cm to 12 cm. Width: About 5 cm to 8 cm. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed; crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent, rough,            leathery; veins prominent on lower surface.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: Close to 144A.            Developing foliage, lower surface: Close to 143C. Fully            expanded foliage, upper surface: Darker than 137A; venation,            close to 146B. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Darker            than 146A; venation, 146C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 146B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Decorative pompon-type inflorescence form with            elongated oblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on            terminals, arising from leaf axils. Ray and disc florets            develop acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences not            fragrant.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower            in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere. At other            times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development            can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at            least 13.5 hours of darkness). Early and uniform flowering            response; plants exposed to two weeks of long day/short            night conditions after planting followed by photoinductive            short day/long night conditions flower about seven weeks            later when grown as a disbud.        -   Postproduction longevity.—In an interior environment,            inflorescences and foliage with maintain good color and            substance for about three weeks.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—When grown as a spray type,            freely flowering habit, about 12 to 15 inflorescences per            flowering stem develop.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6 cm to 7 cm. Depth            (height): About 3.5 cm to 4 cm. Disc diameter: About 2 mm.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Shape: Oblate. Height: About 6 mm.            Diameter: About 9 mm. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Width: About 8 mm            to 12 mm. Shape: Elongated oblong. Aspect: Incurving. Apex:            Emarginate. Base: Fused; tubular. Texture: Smooth, glabrous;            satiny. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 500            arranged in numerous rows. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to 151C. When opening, lower surface: Close            to 154A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 154B; color            becoming closer to 154C with development. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 154A.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular, elongated. Length: About 7 mm.            Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Number of disc florets per            inflorescence: About 10; inconspicuous. Color: Immature:            Close to 145D. Mature: Apex: 145A. Mid-section: 15D. Base:            145D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Not observed. Gynoecium:            Present on both ray and disc florets. Stigma length: About            5 mm. Stigma width: About 0.5 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted.            Stigma color: Close to 154D; towards the apex, 154C to 154D.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Chrysanthemums has not been observed on plants grown under    commercial conditions.

1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dekchironne’ asillustrated and described.